Former Gov. Charlie Crist took another step toward shedding his former political identity on Tuesday by endorsing Sarasota Democrat Keith Fitzgerald in his congressional race against U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key.

For Fitzgerald, the support from the still-popular Crist is a calculation aimed at helping him win moderate Republicans in an uphill battle against an incumbent. For Crist, the move is another step in reinventing his political career, one that many speculate could include a future run for governor as a Democrat.

“Without question Keith Fitzgerald will be a great leader for the people of this district,” Crist said at a press conference with Fitzgerald in the Indian Beach neighborhood in northern Sarasota.

The support is startling given Crist’s past strong support for Buchanan. Over the last six years, Crist has attended rallies for Buchanan, helped him raise money and was one of Buchanan’s first big donors during his first campaign for Congress in 2005, when he seemed anything but a sure bet.

While Crist declined to talk about his political future Tuesday, the evidence that he’s preparing for a run for governor as a Democrat is piling up. Aside from Tuesday’s congressional endorsement, Crist spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, campaigned afterward with President Barack Obama in Florida and has contributed to various Democratic candidates.